Pinetop Perkins RIP

Sad news, the great Pinetop Perkins has died.  Pinetop was one of the last of the Chicago Boogie Woogie piano players.  Below is an obit from Bob Corritore, but I did want to add one story of my own.  I was lucky to have met Pinetop one snowy night in Des Moines Iowa.   Pinetop was headlining a show at Connie's Lounge with the Soul Searchers.  Pinetop was late due to the storm, so I was fortunate enough to get a chance to play with the Soul Searchers while we waited for him to arrive.  Once he was got to the bar I was able to sit down next to him and talk awhile.  He was an amazingly nice old man, (probably in his late 70s then) and he complimented my piano playing, which he was probably just being nice, but it really meant a lot to me back then!  When Pinetop finally got warmed up he got up to the piano and blew the doors off the place.  That was the first time that I realized that bluemen only get better with age.  Unlike popular music, where you are washed up once past 30.  You are only getting started in the  blues when you hit 50.  The blues unlike any other medium honors its elder blues players with a reverence like no other.  Certainly older players get recognition in Jazz, and Country, but the blues still see you as a vital contributor to the music.  God bless you Pinetop and may you, Otis, Sunnyland, Memphis Slim, and Lafayette jam away for all eternity.

From Bob Corritore

March 21, 2011

• RIP Pinetop Perkins July 7, 1915 to March 21, 2011. Nobody can live forever, but for a period of time in his long life of 97 years, the legendary Pinetop Perkins made us think it was possible. It is with tears that we say goodbye to one of the most loved and highly respected blues musicians of our time. Pinetop Perkins died today of heart failure at his home in Austin, Texas. We know that Pinetop led a rich and happy life, and that he understood the simple pleasures, which he enjoyed everyday. Pinetop Perkins was born in Belzoni, Mississippi. He began his career as a guitarist, but then injured the tendons in his left arm in a fight with a choir-girl in Helena, Arkansas. Unable to play guitar, Pinetop switched to the piano. He got his moniker from playing the popular "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie", a 1928 hit by pianist Pinetop Smith.Pinetop accompanied Sonny Boy Williamson II on the Helena based radio program King Biscuit Time on KFFA. He worked with Robert Nighthawk, accompanying him on the 1950 Aristocrat recording of "Jackson Town Gal". In the 1950s, Perkins joined Earl Hooker's band and began touring, stopping to record "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" at Sam Phillips' studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Pinetop was a major influence on the young Ike Turner, whom he taught piano. Pinetop joined the Muddy Waters Band in 1969, replacingOtis Spann, and playing in the band for over a decade. It is from his time with Muddy that Pinetop became a well known name in the blues. Pinetop would leave Muddy's band with other band members to form The Legendary Blues Band before restarting his solo career. Along the way, Pinetop was helped by the confident direction provided by manager Patricia Morgan, who was a tireless and diplomatic advocate. Pinetop won three Grammy Awards, and so many Handy Awards that he gracefully took himself out of the running by changing the piano category award to his namesake. Though he rose to the highest of stature, Pinetop was always very accessible and appeared on numerous albums, and projects. He remained active, healthy and happy until the end, even with a daily habit of cigarettes, and McDonald's (double mac with cheese, medium sprite, and an apple pie). He spent his 97th birthday flying to Spain to play a blues festival, and this year he won his third Grammy for "Best Traditional Blues album" for Joined At The Hip, his collaboration with Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on the Telarc label. We should also mention Barry Nowlin,Michael Freeman, Bob Margolin, Hugh Southard of Blue Mountain Artists, Onnie Heaney, Little Frank Krakowski, Bob Stroger, Diunna Greenleaf, and Pete Carlson for their support roles in Pinetop's life. We will miss Pinetop's distinctive voice and his elegant, interactive piano style. He has touched all of us with his charm, his talent, and his loving approach to life. Though we hate to say goodbye, we have to be thankful for the great joy that he brought us. God bless you Pinetop. To see some great photos of Pinetop Perkins click here, and here
  
  UPDATE FROM BOB CORRITORE
  
  
  
  

  Pinetop Perkins obit correction and funeral information. Please note that in our Pinetop Perkins obituary we listed the wrong birth year. Pinetop was born in 1913, not 1915 as we mistakenly stated. Pinetop's funeral information is as follows:

   

  Visitation
  Sunday, March 27, 2011 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm
  Cook-Walden Funeral Home
  6100 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78752
  512-454-5611
  
  Funeral Service
  Monday, March 28, 2011 -  5:00pm
  Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home
  6100 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78752
  512-454-5611

  Celebration of LifeMonday, March 28, 2011 - 8:00PM
  Antone's Blues Club
  213 W 5th St
  Austin, TX  78701

   

  Burial services will be on Saturday, April 2, 2011 in Clarksdale, MS.
  Details are still being finalized.

Pinetop Perkins And HoneyBoy Edwards In Dallas Texas

Lynn Orman has sent along a press release for a cool presentation by the Blue Shoe Project. Pinetop Perkins, and Honeyboy Edwards are to give a talk about the blues and African American history. If you are in Dallas this is a must see event. Pinetop and Honeyboy have seen a lot of history. If I was in Dallas that night I would be in the front of the line for this one! Please go out and see these living legends!!!!!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: LYNN ORMAN 847- 452-6469

Grammy Winners Pinetop, Honeyboy, America’s last Delta Bluesmen set to make history in Dallas.

Nonagenarian blues legends to share music & tales of plantations, presidents & people they met along the way

Wednesday, October 27, 2008 - Dallas, Texas – On November 7, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. two of America’s greatest treasures, Blues legends and Grammy Award winners Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins, 95, and David “Honeyboy” Edwards, 93, will perform for over 4,000 students as part of The Blue Shoe Legends Program™ in Dallas, Texas. This event will give students a rare opportunity to glimpse into the past and experience when and how the Blues was born.

“This is the largest event of this kind ever held. At 93 and 95 years of age, we’ve only got one shot at this and the time is now!” Michael Dyson said, 23-year-old Grammy Award winner and co-founder of The Blue Shoe Project.

“We are at a crucial point in American History, and the time is now to listen to the wisdom that has been bestowed upon us by the Legends. “

The Blue Shoe Legends Program™, an educational initiative of The Blue Shoe Project, is an exciting live and interactive storyteller performance event that brings legends and high profile artists of the music industry into an educational setting to share their lives, experiences, music and wisdom with students. On the web at: http://www.BlueShoeLegends.com

Pinetop Perkins, two-time Grammy Award winner and National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow began playing blues around 1927 and is widely regarded as one of the best Blues pianists. He has created a style of playing that has influenced three generations of piano players and will continue to be the yardstick by which great Blues pianists are measured.

Honeyboy Edwards is one of the most sought-after Bluesmen in the world for his eyewitness accounts of Blues history as it happened. Honeyboy, who remembers playing in Deep Ellum near downtown Dallas in the 1930’s recounts the death of legendary Bluesman Robert Johnson who also recorded in Dallas.

Pinetop and Honeyboy received Grammy awards this year for the album Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen – Live in Dallas, produced by The Blue Shoe Project.

About The Blue Shoe Project™

The Blue Shoe Project is a Texas-based 501 ( c )(3) donor support charitable non-profit organization founded with the mission of educating the coming generations on the importance of Blues music. Since its inception in 2004, over 30,000 students have experienced programs presented by The Blue Shoe Project. On the web at: http://www.BlueShoeProject.org

For questions or interviews, please contact Michael Dyson immediately mike(at)blueshoeproject.org or 972-409-0091 / 817-689-2416

Muddy Waters: Blow Wind Blow

Classic video of Muddy Waters, joined by Paul Butterfield on Harp, and Pinetop Perkins on Piano. I think it also might be Willie Smith on drums?? HELP?? Thanks

Muddy Waters Blow Wind Blow
Uploaded by Zone19

Artist Of The Week: Pinetop Perkins

Pinetop Perkins is one of the last of the Muddy Waters band still performing. Perkins has made a name of his own over the last 30 years. One of the nicest people you will ever meet. I had the opportunity to sit in with the Soul Searchers when they opened for Pinetop many years ago in Des Moines. It was a great opportunity to talk to the master and to watch his hands as he played. To watch the videos look for the Youtube videos located on the left side of the blog.

Pinetop Perkins: Wee Wee Hours

Here is a better video of Daryl Davis warming up the ivories for Pinetop Perkins. Although the video says that Pinetop was late, I know from the experience of opening up for him, that he likes take his time getting up on stage to play. When you are 90 years old you can pretty much do whatever you want!!:-) When Pinetop was a spry 80 year old I had the pleasure of sitting in with the Soul Searchers while we waited for Pinetop to take my place. Pinetop sat in the audience for a couple of songs and after each one I looked at him and pointed to the piano, and he just smiled and pointed back! Finally after the third song he finally got up and strode to the piano and then lit into a boogie woogie that rocked the house!!!

Pinetop Perkins Nominated For Two BMA's

From the Helena Daily World in Helena Arkansas come an article about Pinetop Perkins. Pinetop has been nominated for two BMA's. To read about his story and the BMA's Click HERE.

Pinetop Perkins: Teeny Weeny Bit

Jan clued me in on this great video of 90+ year old blues piano man Pinetop Perkins. Jan says he lives in Dallas and this was filmed at Austin SXSW. It is a great video of one of the last Chicago boogie woogie piano players. Jan also said he sells his CDs at blues shows down in Dallas so if you are in the area and see him buy one! Also talk to him, he is a pretty cool cat. I met him up here in Des Moines back in 1993. I was lucky to open for him. I think that he is like a fine wine and has improved with age.

Elvin Bishop, Pinetop Perkins, and Little Smoky Smothers

A very cool video of interviews and conversations with Elvin Bishop, Pinetop Perkins, and Smoky Smothers. This is a great video that you really need to watch. Also Elvin briefly lived in Red Oak Iowa, although from his accent you wouldn't think so:-)